Overwhelming Response to Food Poverty Campaign

28th Oct, 2013

The public’s response to Shropshire RCC’s 2013 ‘Make a Difference’ campaign has been “overwhelming” according to Volunteering Coordinator, Steve Jones.

This year’s campaign threw a spotlight on food poverty and appealed for donations of food to help foodbanks, shelters and other organisations working with people who are struggling to feed themselves and their families.

“The Volunteering Team has been working with a growing number of volunteers and community groups who are helping people in food poverty, following rising cases of people struggling to feed themselves and their families in Shropshire. It was very appropriate that this year’s ‘Make a Difference’ campaign focused on simple things that everyone can do to help address food poverty in the county,” explains Steve.

Support for the campaign came from far and wide, with scouts and guides collecting canned and dried food as part of their ‘Make a Difference’ badge, catering students from Shrewsbury College making fresh soup and members of the public dropping off donations of tea, coffee and other supplies at supporting venues throughout Make a Difference week.

“It is incredibly heartening to see the volume of food that has been donated. The generosity of local people, despite the current economic climate, has been astounding. We believe we have collected enough for eighty food parcels,” says Steve.

The Volunteering Team is now working with volunteers at local organisations to distribute the donated goods and develop further activities which can build on the profile raised by this year’s Make a Difference campaign.

If you would like to find out more about the Volunteering Team, get involved with voluntary organisations running food poverty initiatives, or make a donation of food, please contact Steve Jones, Volunteering Coordinator on 01743 237877 or steve.jones@shropshire-rcc.org.uk